Event planner Lexi Mannis has a busy life in Chicago—too busy to have a boyfriend. For special occasions, she has her Stand-In Boyfriend, Mac Northrop. Mac offers (almost) all the perks of a real boyfriend—furniture assembly, a date to big events, and someone to cook for. But they've never been “with benefits”…until one wickedly hot night crosses the line.

Mac's been in love with Lexi for ages. He knows he should probably end it, but dammit, he just can't. When things get deliciously down and dirty, Mac is certain that he's made the leap out of the friend zone…until Lexi decides she wants to remain friends. With benefits.

What Lexi doesn't know is that she's running out of time. And if she won't promote Mac to Real Boyfriend, she might just lose her Stand-In Boyfriend to someone else…

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection Book Review

I would love to just bottle some of the moments in this book because they are so romantic. One of the books you need to read if you want to believe in love again, and be reminded of how wonderful it really is to find happiness whatever the situation presents. – Ara of My Book and My CoffeeWelcome to America Singer’s life. Her life is pretty much laid out to her since birth. This is for everyone in Illéa, actually. She is living in a land where numbers are important. Numbers that dictate what people can or cannot have. And sadly, these numbers also dictate who a person can or cannot love. Then, America became one of the Selected. The chance in a lifetime every girl dreams of. This is a chance to live in a palace and hopefully win Prince Maxon’s heart. But America is not ‘every girl’. She is pretty happy with her secret love, Aspen. She just wants to be herself and continue the life she knows. As a Selected, she has to leave home and compete for something that she doesn’t really want – be the Princess of Illéa / win Prince Maxon’s heart. The book is so well written; it described everything so perfectly that at one point, I had to put the book down (just for a moment) because I was melting and needed time to take the sweetness overload I’d just read. This book has those moments and as I’ve mentioned above, I would love to bottle them and just keep them with me at all times. I love the story so much. It is so colorful. Yes, so many things going on there but the writing is powerful that you can’t really get lost as a reader. The characters were definitely written perfectly. I love America’s character and I can understand the struggle she’s going through. I understand the situation that she’s in. I just hope she realizes what she wants before … no. I just hope she realizes what she wants. Period. And fast. Prince Maxon – I’m in-love with this character. Crazy, I know. But I am. As to Aspen, I don’t know what to tell you about this guy. I liked him at first but not anymore. Marlee, one of the Selected girls, is also interesting. I wonder what is behind that giddy and enthusiastic façade. I just hope it’s not pure evil. I like her now but I have a feeling that there’s something we, the readers, are not seeing. Or maybe it’s just me and trust issues. LOL.So here’s the part where I choose sides. I really am hoping that the end of this will be America marrying Prince Maxon. The Selection is Book 1 and I can’t wait to read Book Two, The Elite. I don’t know what will happen yet. I was careful not to read comments for the other books. But I really, really hope that America will end up with Prince Maxon. That he will be loyal and faithful to her. I mean, come on. Prince Maxon is just soooo adorable and loving. And if I was America, I’d fight for him. Yes, he is a character but I am IN-LOVE with this guy already. LOL. I don’t care about Aspen. At first, America and Aspen were cute and the ‘against all odds’ thing they have going on was kind of romantic. I’ve been there. But what he did wasn’t right. And I’m sure he has his reasons for doing such a thing, and I respect that. But I think the story wasn’t created for him and her. This love story is really for Prince Maxon and America – it’s destiny. It should be. I am rooting for these two! Team Maxon all the way! I mean, come on now. It’s gotta be Team Maxon.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I'm on Chapter 8 at the moment... and OMG. I am so amazed already.

What about you? What book are you reading at the moment? Please let me know in the comments! :) Have you read 'The Selection' already? No spoilers, please? LOL.

Thirty-something Grace Savage has slogged through crummy jobs and dead-end relationships with men who would rather go bald than say “I do”. In search of respite from her current job, she visits Shaker Village in New Hampshire. Instead of renewal, she’s unnerved to learn that Shaker men and women lived and worked side by side in complete celibacy.

When her longtime boyfriend dumps her instead of proposing, Grace avows the sexless Shaker ways. Resolved to stick to her new plan – dubbed the Shaker Plan – despite ovaries ticking like time bombs, she returns to her life in Pennsylvania. Almost immediately, she's juggling two eligible bachelors: Addison, a young beat reporter; and True, a venerable anthropology professor. Both men have ample charms and soul mate potential to test her newfound Shaker-style self-control, and Grace appears to be on the fast track to a marriage proposal… until secrets revealed deliver a death rattle to the Shaker Plan.

Grace Unexpected Book Review

A great read. The ending was unexpected. I don’t know how it will work out but, all in all, the whole story is incredible and shows a different level of understanding when it comes to the word ‘love’. –Ara of My Book and My Coffee

Grace Unexpected is a story about Grace Savage, a woman who thought she’d get a proposal from her longtime boyfriend, Christian, on her 35th birthday. Oh well, let’s just say that it was a mistake, that Grace should have seen this coming instead. But if you ask me, ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish’.

Before this birthday fiasco, Grace and her sister-in-law went on a vacation; they went to Shaker Village in New Hampshire. This Shaker-village-experience led her to learn how men and women of that village lived: in complete celibacy. After what happened on her birthday, she decided to declare a plan that will let her concentrate more on work – the Shaker plan, giving up sex unless it’s with a man she has a commitment with. A noble plan, I must say.

The next events weren’t so easy for Grace especially when it seemed like this plan attracted two of the most adorable bachelors in the planet – Addison and True. :)

The story, overall, is very interesting. I remember feeling really happy and excited for Grace when she and Addison were together. And I had the same feeling when Grace was with True. The story is very modern, you know. I mean, from where I came from, you cannot date two guys at once. It’s frowned upon, not really illegal. You can entertain multiple suitors but then it’s really up to you if you want to ‘date’ one of them. I feel old sharing this with you. HAHA. But I understand what Grace went through in this story. She wanted to explore and decide from there. What her heart will tell her after getting to know the two, etc. The problem was she liked them both and could not decide. I felt the ‘sparks’ between her and Addison. I felt how enchanted she was with True, and how he True-ly adored and cared for her. So will she go with the one with ‘sparks’ or the enchanting one? I tried to put my self in her shoes and I, too, could not decide.

The story is never a bore because aside from her dating life, Grace will also experience some office madness that may or may not be a good thing for her career and, overall, her life.

Characters in the story: Special mention to Goody. He is one of my favorites. You’ll encounter a McDisaster character here and she’s one to lookout for; she’s a real piece of work. And of course, I like Grace. She’s funny and intelligent. Maybe not so much when it comes to dating. LOL. There’s a big ‘OMG’ there. You’ll have to find out for yourself.

One let down here is the ending. I’m not completely happy about how the story ended. Yes, it is a happy ending because of what happened to Grace but ‘question marks’ are floating in my head. Like, why? And how will it work out? And it’s like I need one more chapter before this ending so I can understand why this has to happen and with this person. I guess I needed more to feel the sweet and happy ending as it's intended to be.

Finally back! Changed my theme, fixed issues here and there. Although I have other things I want to add here and there, too! Anyway, to start this joyful celebration (me being back and all), I'll start this sort of bookish meme. There's no linkup because I can't find a free link up tool for now. Can't exactly afford any additional tools but maybe next time.

So, what am I reading at the moment?

Thirty-something Grace Savage has slogged through crummy jobs and dead-end relationships with men who would rather go bald than say “I do”. In search of respite from her current job, she visits Shaker Village in New Hampshire. Instead of renewal, she’s unnerved to learn that Shaker men and women lived and worked side by side in complete celibacy.When her longtime boyfriend dumps her instead of proposing, Grace avows the sexless Shaker ways. Resolved to stick to her new plan – dubbed the Shaker Plan – despite ovaries ticking like time bombs, she returns to her life in Pennsylvania. Almost immediately, she's juggling two eligible bachelors: Addison, a young beat reporter; and True, a venerable anthropology professor. Both men have ample charms and soul mate potential to test her newfound Shaker-style self-control, and Grace appears to be on the fast track to a marriage proposal… until secrets revealed deliver a death rattle to the Shaker Plan.